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Did Ensign Hire Doug Hampton To Stop Himself From Having An Affair?
We can't blame you if you'd almost forgotten about John Ensign. Since the GOP senator confessed last month to an affair, he's been unceremoniously knocked out of the headlines by the successive implosions of two other Republican 2012 hopefuls.
But the philandering Nevadan doesn't deserve to go gently into that good night just yet. And yesterday the Las Vegas Sun had a report on the relationship between Ensign and Doug and Cynthia Hampton -- the latter was Ensign's paramour from December 2007 until August 2008 -- which jibes in places with what we reported several weeks ago.
The Sun asks why Ensign hired his "best pal" Doug Hampton in 2006 for a high-paying job in the senator's office, despite Doug Hampton's apparent lack of qualifications for the post. The paper notes that Darlene Ensign -- the senator's wife -- and Cynthia Hampton went to high school together, but then adds:
The Hampton and Ensign families also shared conservative evangelism, according to people who know them. The men shared a commitment to the principles of Promise Keepers, a Christian fellowship that espouses strong marriages and families.
We reported last month on the Promise Keepers connection, and noted that one of the seven promises to which participants commit themselves is "pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises."
A source told us for that post that when Hampton was hired, the attitude among other staffers was, "This is the boss's religious buddy. We're not gonna bitch about him, but we don't really like him."
In other words, could it be that Ensign -- who had had a long unexplained absence from his job in 2002, which many observers believe was triggered by another affair -- brought his religious friend onto the staff in part to help keep himself on the path of righteousness, but then ended up straying from that path, with disastrous consequences, with his friend's wife?
The word irony would hardly do it justice...
Josh
Zachary
Well, I can think of some other words that give your thesis justice -- PULLING STUFF STRAIGHT OUT OF YOUR ASS!
Really! OK, the guy is a sleaze-ball, and everyone involved in this mess is oily from the get-go, but this is pure dreamed up crap, unless you have evidence that you have not presented. It is made up totally. Do you have one scintilla of evidence that he brought this guy onto his staff to KEEP HIM FROM HAVING AN AFFAIR? If so, it really wouldn't surprise me, but please present it; otherwise, it shouldn't see the light of day.
This is the kind of bull-shit that gives blogs a bad name!
July 6, 2009 7:21 PM | Reply | Permalink
Second, emphatically. This ain't news, Zach.
July 7, 2009 9:43 AM | Reply | Permalink
Considering the newly recognized habits of self-righteous, mea culpa Republicans, it's likely that Sen. Ensign, just like South Carolina Gov. Mark Sanford, was "hiking the Appalachian Trail."
July 7, 2009 1:03 AM | Reply | Permalink
"...the Promise Keepers connection, and noted that one of the seven promises to which participants commit themselves is "pursuing vital relationships with a few other men, understanding that he needs brothers to help him keep his promises."
When a person has no morals of their own, they must really need help in keeping their promises.
Moral people keep their promises without the help of others and refrain from making promises they themselves can't keep.
July 7, 2009 8:41 AM | Reply | Permalink
In keeping with CVille Dem's comments... This piece, with its headline, is unworthy of TPM and should be removed. There's NO EVIDENCE cited that Ensign hired Hampton to "stop himself from having an affair" - just that they were buddies and shared religious convictions.
I'm no fan of Ensign or the GOP, but if you're gonna play journalist you've gotta follow the rules.
Either put up or shut up - either post what you've got or take this down.
July 7, 2009 9:48 AM | Reply | Permalink
I completely agree, this ain't news, and what's more it's simply NOT important to this story either.
What IS important to this story is that this guy is still in office and refusing to resign.
He needs to go.
July 7, 2009 10:51 AM | Reply | Permalink
Meh - it's a fair question given Ensign's tendency to jam his religion down everyone else's throat.
July 7, 2009 1:23 PM | Reply | Permalink
It's as fair a question? Because he is a holier-than-thou ass-hole? To put such a headline on a dreamed up scenario is not fair at all; it is stupid, and as I said, it is exactly the kind of crap that taints the blogosphere.
Is it a fair question to ask if Obama REALLY intends to take everyone's guns away? After all he is definitely anti-violence. Yes, that gets written all over the right-wing cites. I think we should be above that here.
July 7, 2009 4:34 PM | Reply | Permalink
So the "Promise Keepers" are really a bunch of swingers? Leave it to the GOP!!!
July 7, 2009 7:37 PM | Reply | Permalink
It is amazing how negative stories and comments about "religious" people bring out the righteous indignation of commentators.
Promise Keepers participants commit themselves to "pursuing vital relationships with a few other men..."
Sounds like David Vitter would feel right at home in this group.
July 8, 2009 7:37 AM | Reply | Permalink